Max third after Friday in Brazil: 'Positive start to the weekend'

Published on 15 November 2019 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen finished day one of the Brazilian Grand Prix in third place. Sebastian Vettel was quickest around the Interlagos circuit, ahead of his Ferrari team mate Charles Leclerc.

“It was a bit of messy day and the weather wasn’t representative”, said Max after FP2. We have to focus on the positives; the car is good around here and there are always things that can be done better but it’s a positive start to the weekend.”

Looking ahead to Saturday, Max is clear: “We start from scratch because the weather will be different.”

The second practice session starts with a bang. Robert Kubica crashes hard in the Williams and causes the first red flag of the session. The incident marks the end of the Polish driver’s Friday on-track action.

After the restart, the two Red Bulls set the pace, followed by a period in which Max, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel fight for the top spot. On Max’ second run, he reports: “Engine braking is not good”

With the rain having stopped, the lap times tumble on the slick tyres. With forty minutes to go, Max heads out on another set of softs. He betters his time to climb to third, but is unable to beat the Ferraris.

In the final half an hour, the teams focus on race simulations, meaning the lap times no longer improve. Max reports he still struggles with the engine braking.

Scuderia Toro Rosso draw the most attention in the closing stages; Pierre Gasly causes a virtual safety car when his power-unit goes up in smoke, before Daniil Kvyat causes a red flag marking the end of FP2. The Russian’s car grinds to a halt due to a technical failure which forced him off track and into the tyres.

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Results second free practice Brazil: